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EARLY RACING PRIOR TO NEW BRIGHTON TC

Among the fine pioneers who helped convert the Canterbury plains from tussock-strewn wastes into their present-day productiveness were many who had followed the hounds and ridden over steeplechase courses in England. Naturally, their inherent love of sport soon asserted itself in the land of their adoption. Not long after Hagley Park had been laid out, it was a common meeting ground for horsemen of that time, many of whom not many years previously had helped to swell the throng in Rotten Row.

So it came about that before long Hagley Park saw the start of racing activities in the young settlement. There were no regular race meetings but matches between prominent horsemen were of frequent occurrence. Anniversary Day could always be relied upon to produce two or three contests of this kind, and great was the interest taken in them. When the Canterbury Settlement was first formed, a large tract of land at Upper Riccarton was set aside as a racecourse reserve, and it was there that the Canterbury Jockey Club made it's headquarters. There it has remained ever since, and from one with primitive appointments the course has progressed into a racetrack that has few superiors in Australasia. The first contest for the Canterbury Derby, now known as the NZ Derby, was decided in 1860, victory resting with Mr Harris's mare, Ada, which was ridden by R Reay. In the same year, the Canterbury Cup was instituted, the initial race being won by that great mare, Wetsail, owned by Mr C Redwood, of Nelson.

In the (18)seventies racecourses sprang into existence from one end of Canterbury to the other. Meetings were held at Akaroa, Ashburton, Burke's Pass, Leeston, Geraldine, Hurunui, Kaiapoi, Rangiora, Ohoka, Oxford, Southbridge, Timaru, Waimate and Woodend. Many of these Clubs have dropped out, but in their time they did much to advance the sport of kings.

It was at these old-time meetings that trotting gained its first foothold. As yet, no proper trotting club had been inaugurated, and the few horses in training were recruited mostly from the local tradesmen's carts. Matches between these were often witnessed in Hagley Park, but an even more popular racing ground was the fine stretch of road extending from the Ferry Bridge into the city. These races invariably finished at the old White Hart Hotel, where those who had not followed the trotters on horseback congregated to see the final stages. As the number of light-harness horses and patrons increased, there grew a demand for increased racing facilities.

One of the first tracks was a Brown's Paddock in Ferry Road, just on the town side of where the Lower Heathcote course was subsequently formed. It was a rough spot, with practically no conveniences, and did not survive many meetings. Then a change over was made to Heathcote, where gatherings, which included gallops, hurdle races and trots, were held for many years. Not until the early 'eighties was trotting put on an independent footing by the formation of a club devoted entirely to its interests. This was the Lower Heathcote Trotting Club, and in subsequent years arose the Lancaster Park Trotting Club (reorganised afterward and made the Lancaster Park Amateur Trotting Club), New Brighton Trotting Club, Canterbury Trotting Club, and Plumpton Park Trotting Club, now known as the Canterbury Park Trotting Club.

From the very earliest days New Brighton had always been a keen trotting centre. Such fine sportsmen as Tom Free, T Marr, Henry Mace, John, Charlie and Willie Kerr, H McIlwraith, and others, did much as owners and breeders to help the sport to its present high standard. In the 'seventies that grand stretch of beach northward of where the pier now stands was a favourite congregating ground. For several years meetings were held there, the flat and hurdle events being run over straight courses, while the trotters had to turn round a post and finished where they started.

The late Tom Free at the time owned the Bower Hotel, and also a good deal of the sandhills property between the hotel and the sea. Recognising the disadvantages of racing on the beach, he formed a body known as the New Brighton Racing Club, to promote all classes of racing in the district. Mr Free let the Club have what is now the New Brighton racecourse at a nominal rental, and formed a right-of-way to give access to it from the old New Brighton Road. It was a rough-looking spot in those days - nothing but sandhills, manuka scrub, and tussocks greeting the eye in all directions. In places the sandhills were levelled to make way for the racing track, but in others it was cut through them.

One of the last meetings held on the beach was in 1885. At this gathering C Kerr won the two miles trot with Queen, who was followed home by Sly Sam. The three miles trot went to Sly Sam, who at an earlier meeting had returned a big dividend. It was in 1884 that the first meeting was held on the newly-formed New Brighton course. Johnny Kerr rode his own horse, Larry, to victory in the open hurdles, and subsequently Willie Kerr appropriated the Maiden Hurdles with Patience. Burlington won the Maiden Plate, while the principal event for the afternoon, the Avon Plate, went to Rebecca. The only trotting event on the programme fell to Mr W Graham's Miriam, with Flora second and Old Bob Riley third. Among other winners at those early gatherings were Maud S, Roger, Ragman, Cock Robin, Jumbo, Gipsy, Miss Scott, Arthur and Young Irvington. The last-named was owned by Mr Tom Free, whose son Arthur steered the son of Irvington in most of his races.

Irvington was imported from America by Mr John Kerr, of Nelson, in 1882. Subsequently he stood a few seasons in the New Brighton district, and afterwards found his way to New South Wales. He was brought out from America at the same time as Vancleve, Childe Harold, Fitzjames, Newland's Hambletonian, Blackwood Abdallah, Berlin, Bill Allen, and Pinole Patchen. The importation of so many well-bred sires soon brought an improvement in the class of light-harness horses, which up to this time had been without the influence of American blood. Unfortunately, the best of the collection - Childe Harold and Vancleve - were snapped up by Australian buyers without being used in New Zealand. Irvington remained here one or two seasons only and he will always be remembered as a sire of great producing mares.

Quite a number of useful gallopers were attracted to the early New Brighton meetings, while such well-known sportsmen as J E Pilbrow, 'Dan' O'Brien, 'Pasty' Butler, H Vallance, J Lunn, R Richardson, H Piper, S Wilson, J Ward and H Murfitt were generally in evidence. On one occasion Geo. Murray-Aynsley rode Master Agnes at 12st in a Lady's Bracelet, but more than met his match in J E Pilbrow's Vanity Fair.

Among those who had most to do with the club's early destinies were T Free, M Hawkins, J Wild, R Sunderland, D Barnes, John Kerr, and R Richardson, the last named of whom officiated as starter. Unfortunately, the undertaking, a proprietary one, was not a success, and after a few years a new body known as the New Brighton Sports Club, took over the course. This concern started off with a big flourish of trumpets, but after less than two season's activities had to throw in the towel. After going begging for some time, the racecourse was acquired by the late Henry Mace in 1888 and about the same time the New Brighton Trotting Club came into existence. Prominent among its officials were Messrs H Mace, T Marr, T Free, D Barnes, J Free and Smithson. Mr Calvert, a well-known vet, usually officiated as starter. An arrangement was entered into with Mr Mace, whereby he kept the course and buildings in order and charged the trotting club and the Christchurch Racing Club so much a day for its use. Like most proprietary concerns, however, the new trotting club failed to make much progress, nor was the management all that could be desired.

At almost every meeting a selling race was included on the programme, and these were seldom above suspicion. It was one of them that led to the biggest rumpus ever witnessed on a Canterbury course. As previously mentioned, part of the New Brighton track along the back straight was cut through a sandhill with high banks on either side. For about a furlong the competitors were completely lost to view, and here it was that some desperate happenings took place. In the race under mention, a well-known owner-trainer of that time had a fairly useful trotter engaged, and entrusted a relative with a good sum to back it on the totalisator. By some means the commission was shut out. The horse referred to had a useful lead when the field entered the sandhill, but by this time the backer had raced across the course and imparted this ill news to the driver. When the field reappeared to view the leader had dropped back to last, a position that he stuck to for the remainder of the journey. No sooner had the race finished than pandemonium broke loose. So scared was the driver (whose money was not on) of the hostile demonstration, that he failed to weigh in, and bolted for town. This saved his skin, but did not prevent him from being "rubbed out" for a lengthy period.

On another occasion the story is told by old timers of all the competitors coming to a halt in the shade of the sandhill, and an argument arising as to who was to win. One rider, who was leading at the time, waited in vain for the others to come up, and at length in despair shouted out "Come on you loafers or I'll turn back." No wonder the meetings came into disfavour with the general run of racegoers, and that in 1891 the club was reorganised with the proprietary element cut out.

New blood was introduced into the management with the late Mr A I Rattray as secretary. From that time there was a marked change for the better in the affairs of the seaside club. The New Brighton body weathered the depression years of the 1930's very well indeed, and although it was forced to give up its popular course during World War II and for some years afterwards, its return there last season proved a move in the right direction. The public are according the club most gratifying support, and the racing provided on the mile grass circuit last season was of a standard bettered on very few courses throughout the Dominion.


Credit: F C Thomas writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 10Aug49

New Tote Annex

RETURN TO NEW BRIGHTON

Spic and span with a brand-new £3000 coat of paint, the New Brighton Trotting Club's stands, totalisator houses and rails will present a beaming front to the thousands of old and new patrons expected to throng the roomy seaside course when the club, next month, holds the first meeting on its own grounds for more than six years; the last meeting held at New Brighton was in February, 1942.

The 'new look' manifests itself on all sides. The transformation from the drab dilapidation left by years of military occupation, to the clean, neat orderliness of today is a shining example of what faith in a tradition, loyalty to a cause and an appropriate admixture of sentiment can do. After all, it is only two years since the club decided to go back to New Brighton rather than race permanently at Addington, and in that short time, even though confronted with many difficulties and shortages of materials, it has worked wonders.

Not the least of these is the remodelling of the mile grass track, which has been banked, regraded and top-dressed and a new mile and a quarter start put down. This new starting point will give fields racing over the main sprint distance a straight run of over two furlongs before a bend is encountered. Previously races over this distance were started on a bend. The track at present bears a beautiful sole of grass, and it has never been in better heart. This opinion is giving it something to live up to, because a number of records were broken on it years and years ago.

In 1925 the great mare Onyx, against time, paced a mile and a half in 3.13, then a world's pacing record, and two years previously Happy Voyage, also against time, had set the NZ main for a mile at 2.04 1/5. A superlative performance registered at New Brighton was Harold Logan's 2.36 3/5 in winning the Avon Handicap, of a mile and a quarter, from 84yds in October, 1934. That was then a world's race record, and, from such a long mark, it still ranks as one of the greatest sprints of all time. About that time the claim was made that the New Brighton track was the best grass track in the Dominion, and racing may not be resumed on it for very long before such a claim is reaffirmed.

Training facilities at New Brighton are first class. The late F J Smith could never understand why there were not more stables in the New Brighton area; the easy sandy nature of the soil and training tracks greatly appealed to him and he always finished off the preparation of the teams he brought from Auckland at the New Brighton course.

The main totalisator house has been renovated throughout and now boasts a spruce annex of 13 new selling windows. These, it is hoped, will assist in handling the greatly-increased crowds now attending trotting meetings compared with 1942.

New Brighton is not the oldest trotting club in NZ - that distinction belongs to Wanganui - but trotting races were held on the New Brighton beach in the early 1870s. Later the New Brighton Racing Club conducted its meetings on a property owned by the late Mr Tom Free. Trotting races were introduced to help the club along, but the New Brighton Racing Club was eventually wound up and the ground leased to the Canterbury Sports Co Ltd, for athletics. This body also went into liquidation and the property purchased by the late Mr Henry Mace, who established 'Brooklyn Lodge' a breeding and traing establishment.

The New Brighton Trotting Club became tenants of the grounds in 1890, and from that year went on from success to success, ultimately purchasing the property from the Button family, who had bought it after the death of Henry Mace. Wise conduct of the club's finances resulted in New Brighton becoming the only freehold racecourse in Christchurch. It is quite unencumbered.

A red-letter day in the history of the club was March 15, 1927, when the other two Christchurch trotting clubs conceded it the privilege of holding the Royal Meeting at Addington in honour of the visit of the present King and Queen, then the Duke and Duchess of York. Great Bingen, a big public favourite at the time, rose to the occasion by winning the York Handicap from 108yds and putting up the then world's record of 4.21.

Not a few trainers, and a big section of the public, have a warm spot for the seaside course. New Brighton's carnival spirit, its public atmosphere, did much to popularise the club's meetings in the past. The present officials are alive to their rich heritage; if teamwork gets results, the future of New Brighton is A1 at Lloyds.



Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 18Aug48

SALE OF NEW BRIGHTON TRACK

To commemorate the Royal visit to Christchurch the New Brighton Trotting course grounds and buildings will be bought by the Christchurch City Council, named Queen Elizabeth II Park, with the Royal assent, and provide a reserve second only to Hagley Park.

The purchase was announced by the Mayor (Mr G Manning) at the public welcome to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Lancaster Park on Saturday.

The President of the New Brighton Trotting Club (Mr A E Laing) said the price, £75,000, was well below the Government valuation of £90,000, but monetary considerations had not been the sole thought of the club's executive, which was deeply conscious of the fact that public patronage down through the years had been the main contributing factor in making the freeholding and maintenance of the property possible. Mr Laing added: "I'm sure all our members and followers of the New Brighton Trotting Club will be happy that this wonderful area of ground is going to be developed to cater for all sports."

The City Council will take possession of the property on October 1. Everyone would be delighted by the purchase, especially at such a reasonable price said the Deputy-Mayor(Cr H P Smith). The terms on which the purchase has been made would enable the city to pay for it without recourse to rates. Tree-planting and the laying out of athletic tracks would be involved in the development, he said, and while the final development would take some years, the reserve would emerge as a park second only to Hagley Park and with amenities for a number of sports. A great advantage would be that off-street parking would be possible at the new park, Cr Smith said.

The Chairman of the reserves committee (Cr P J Skellerup) said the decision to acquire the park was a momentous occasion, and future generations would look on it as an historic one. The possibilities offered were enormous, and would substantially increase Christchurch's chances of securing the Empire Games in 1970 or 1974, he said. Trees would be an important feature of the development, Cr Skellerup said. Possibilities for the park included playing fields for winter sports, cricket ovals, an all-weather athletic track, a lido swimming pool of Olympic standards and even a polo field.

The purchase was negotiated by a sub-committee consisting of himself, Cr Smith and Cr M R Carter, with the president of the Trotting Club (Mr A E Laing) and other executives, Cr Skellerup said, and the Club officials had shown great public spirit and co-operation throughout.

Credit: NZ Trotting Calendar 20Feb63

Following the passing of Notices of Motion by the Members of Canterbury Park and Metropolitan Trotting Clubs in April 1952, the body originally known as Addington Trotting Course Ltd was established to control the Course.

In June 1952 Messrs C E Hoy, D McCormick and J Palmer the Club’s Representatives on the Grounds Committee, were appointed the Club’s Representatives on Addington Trotting Course Ltd thus becoming the first Representatives on the Directorate of the Company. The first meeting of Directors was held on the 11th September 1952, and the Board comprised the three Metropolitan Representatives and three Representatives from the CPTC Messrs J E W Cross, W Milne-Shand and H H Wauchop. Mr Hoy was the Company’s first Chairman.

In February 1953 the Club’s Solicitor, Mr R Twyneham, Submitted a draft of a proposed licence from Addington Trotting Course Ltd setting out the Club’s rights to hold Race Meetings at Addington. This was referred back to the Club’s Solicitor with various queries raised by the Committee. In April of that year, several amendments were made to the lease and a further draft was submitted by the Solicitor who in June was asked to submit the amended draft which he did later in the month for consideration by the Committee. In July the proposed Licence was considered by a sub-committee comprising Messrs C E Hoy, W M Ollivier and C S Thomas and they agreed that it should be discussed with Canterbury Park and both Club’s Solicitors. In February 1954 the Licence to race was not finalized, and in May it was reported that the completion of the Licence had unavoidably been delayed. It was then agreed that it be held over until Mr W M Ollivier returned from overseas. In October it was decided that the question of a “Licence to Race” should be reopened.

Back in March 1953 the capital of Addington Trotting Course Ltd was increased from £36,111 to £225,357 this Club holding 156,016 £1 pound shares or nine thirteenths of the share capital, while Canterbury Park held 69,341 shares. The increase in Capital was necessary to cover the assets taken over from the Clubs by Addington Trotting Course Ltd which were not taken into account when the capital was originally established. The original capital of £36,111 only covered the Club’s cash payment of £25,000 (9/13ths of the Capital) and the Canterbury Park’s goodwill which was estimated at £11,111 (4/13ths). The 9/13 and 4/13 basis related to the number of Racedays each Club conducted.

The Club agreed to a suggestion put forward by the Canterbury Park Committee in May 1955 that a sub-committee of three from each Club confer with the Addington Directors to establish some method of transferring additional funds to the Company. The outcome was a recommendation that 20% of the TAB profit distribution be transferred to Addington Trotting Course Ltd.

Following the loss of the Public Stand by fire and the possible introduction of Night Trotting the question of the New Brighton Trotting Club racing at Addington was discussed informally.

In May 1962 it was decided to appoint an investigating Accountant to go into the assets of Addington Trotting Course Ltd and bring down a report so as to arrive at a realistic basis for negotiations with the New Brighton Trotting Club. In the following month the Accountants Report was received and provided a basis for opening negotiations with the New Brighton Trotting Club. The report was referred to both Canterbury Park and New Brighton without prejudice. In July a further informal meeting was held between the Presidents and Treasurers of the three Clubs, at which S P Godfrey & Co’s Report on the valuation of the Addington shares was discussed. New Brighton was advised that the £1 shares were valued at £1/15/- each, and it would cost them £91,734 to buy into the Company on a 4/17th basis. With their share of the balance of the cost of the new Stand and lighting they would require more than £123,000. Representatives of the Addington Clubs felt this was an unrealistic figure to place before New Brighton as it had been agreed previously by the Representatives of the two Addington Clubs that a realistic basis for negotiations would be to offer New Brighton the right to purchase from the two Clubs 4/17ths of the existing shareholding at £1 per share. The New Brighton Trotting Club was also asked to pay their share of the cost of the lighting. When this offer was made to the New Brighton representatives they were informed that the offer was not subject to any reduction and they were given three months to accept or decline. In September New Brighton advised that, subject to endorsement by their Members, they were prepared to accept the offer to buy into Addington.

In October 1962 the members of the New Brighton Trotting Club endorsed their Committee’s recommendation that shares in Addington Trotting Course Ltd be purchased, that the Club race at Addington and that Day and/or Night Meetings be held. The Club purchased sufficient shares to hold 4/17ths of the Capital, and they paid 4/17ths of the cost of the lighting installation.

In December 1962, at a meeting of Presidents and Treasurers of the three Clubs, the Secretary was instructed to advise the Clubs’ Solicitors that the New Brighton Trotting Club was joining Addington Trotting Course Ltd, and asking that they confer on the re-drafting of the Articles of Association. For the purpose of preparing the draft, the representatives on the Directorate were two from each Club, and one of that number was to be appointed Chairman on rotation. From May 1963 two representatives from the NBTC were invited to attend Directors’ Meetings, up until the Annual Meeting, without voting rights. The NBTC offered to hand over free of charge, any furniture, or other assets that could be used at Addington and a sub-committee was appointed to decide what items were suitable.

In February 1963 at a Special Meeting at Addington Trotting Course Ltd Mr C E Hoy representing the Met and Mr L S Smart representing the CPTC, voted in favour of resolutions altering the Articles of Association to provide for a Building Reserve Fund to be established against the contingency that the Company was unable to secure a satisfactory renewal of the present Lease from the Hospital Board, and also that at any time and for any reason the vacating of the grounds at Addington was necessary. It was also resolved that the Fund be set up for the purchase of lands which were at present held under lease, or upon the erection of amenities on such other lands as may be purchased. In the following month a resolution was passed that the Club seal be affixed to a special resolution altering the Articles of the Company to allow for the inclusion of the New Brighton Trotting Club as a Shareholder in the Addington Trotting Course Ltd.

At this time a Committeeman expressed the view that undue prominence was being given to the words “Raceway” and “Closed-Circuit” in the Club’s advertising, and that less publicity should be given to “Closed-circuit Television” as it was only on trial, although it was put into operation for the 1962 Cup Meeting.

In June 1963 the Solicitor advised that the Memorandum of Mortgage with Commercial Union Group was in hand, and that the Seal of Addington Trotting Course Ltd had been affixed to the documents. In October the Club’s Treasurer Nr C S Thomas reported that he and the Treasurers of the other Clubs recommended a revised financial structure for Addington Trotting Course Ltd whereby the three Clubs would make interest bearing loans to the Company, and it would then be unnecessary to borrow from the Commercial Union Group. The Treasurer was given authority to dispose of investments as and when required to meet the cost of capital expenditure. In October 1963 the Directors decided that in view of the arrangements made for the financing of Capital Works, the Commercial Union Group be advised that the Company would not be calling for loans under the Mortgage, and that it be cancelled and the costs relating to it bourne by Addington. In July 1963 a resolution was passed approving the transfer of shares to the NBTC 16,316 from Canterbury Park and 36,709 from the Met. At the same time the Licence to race between the Company and the New Brighton Trotting Club was completed and signed under Seal. In December 1964 a Report was received from the Addington Trotting Course Ltd Auditors regarding the accumulated Loss & Depreciation, and as a result the Auditors, Hicks & Ainger were asked what was the liability of the Clubs for the deficit of the Company. The Auditors stated that there was no legal obligation for the Clubs to contribute further to cover any losses or deficiency incurred by the Company, as it was a limited liability Company in terms of the Companies Act 1955. The financial position of the Company was sound, in view of the value of the assets and the claiming of full Depreciation was the reason for the accumulated losses. Full Depreciation continued to be claimed, because if it was not, then after six years it would be lost as a claim against future profits.

In October 1965 the Secretary’s suggestion that the name of the Company be changed to Addington Raceway Ltd was agreed to in principle, and in December the Company’s Solicitor was authorized to take the necessary steps to change the name to Addington Raceway Ltd and it February 1966 a Special Resolution under seal was passed by an entry in the Addington Trotting Course Ltd’s Minute Book, authorizing the change of name.

In September 1965 the New Zealand Trotting Conference made an approach to erect an office building on the Addington property, and the Hospital Board was in agreement. The following month Conference advised they were planning to go ahead with the building on a site facing Lincoln Road to the South West of the Taxi entrance on a half acre of land. The NZ Trotting Conference Architects were Colin Lamb & Stewart, and the cost of all necessary alterations to gateways, channel crossings and lighting were met by the Conference as was the cost of having the site surveyed. The Company’s Solicitor drew up an agreement between Addington Trotting Course Ltd and the Conference for the tenure of the land and a Memorandum of Lease was signed under seal in April 1967.

In October 1970 the Trotting Conference was advised that in the event of the Company being able to purchase the Freehold of the Raceway, the Directors would sell that section of land on which the Conference Office was built to them at the unimproved market value if they bought at the time the Company purchased the whole block from the Hospital Board. The Conference paid for its section at the same rate as the whole was purchased by the Company.

In September 1970 acting on the recommendation of the Treasurers of the three Clubs the first office car was purchased for use on the Club’s and Company’s business and for the Secretary’s personal use, and a Toyota Corona was purchased the following month.

In February 1971 the Christchurch Greyhound Racing Club, met the Chairman Mr J K Davidson and the Secretary to discuss the possibility of racing at Addington. In March Mr Davidson reported on the meeting with the deputation from the Greyhound Association, and said that it had been pointed out to them that they would be charged the same basic rental as the Addington Clubs and how difficult it would be to light their track. These points appeared to convince them that Addington was not a suitable venue.

In March 1973 representatives of the Rangiora Trotting Club met the Executive Officers of Addington Raceway when it was agreed that they be charged for the one Meeting only, a rental of one half percent of their turnover.

In October 1974 the interest rate on monies advanced by the Clubs for three projects, the toilets, the upgrading of bars in the Public Stand and the Derby Lodge Complex was increased to 7.5%.

In December 1975 the Club expressed its concern to the Conference about the introduction of Totalisator Permits for Greyhound Racing. If the Dogs were accepted as full partners in the off-course betting system, without any capital contribution to the TAB it could be detrimental to the three Clubs racing at Addington, as well as other Racing and Trotting Clubs. In February 1976 the Trotting Conference advised that the combined Conferences were to meet the Minister of Internal Affairs, and were to impress upon him that any move to allow off-course betting for Greyhound Racing would be opposed, unless the Greyhound Clubs desiring off-course facilities were prepared to pay their share of the capital costs of the TAB.

In June 1977 the Committee agreed to a proposed alteration to the Articles of Association of Addington Raceway Ltd to enable the Chairman to hold office for more than one year in succession to provide a continuity of Chairmanship during periods of change.

In May 1977 it was agreed that temporary accommodation be provided in the office for the staff of the New Zealand Trotting Calendar while the Trotting Conference Building was being extended to house the Calendar and a rental of $400 per annum be charged.

In August 1977 the CPTC suggested that as a further source of income for the Company, advertisements be placed round the track. The Directors referred this to the other two Clubs, and explored the idea through Adamson Dudley who advised that the Company could receive $3,127 per annum from this source. In February 1978 Addington Raceway advised that the other two Clubs had agreed to the signs being displayed, and the Met agreed to abide by the majority decision provided the area around and behind the winning post was kept clear for the Club’s sponsors. As Benson & Hedges, the sponsors for the Inter-Dominion Championships 1979, were unhappy about infield advertising during the Inter-Dominion, Addington Raceway held over track advertising until after the Championships.

In August 1981 the Directors advised that the value of the land on which the NZ Trotting Conference was built was $70,000 and a plan of the area to be sold was submitted to the Waimairi County Council for approval, and the NZTC was advised of this fact. The Conference stated they had received a valuation of $20,837 for the land which it currently leased from the Raceway and requested a meeting of the Conference Executive and the Directors to discuss the difference in valuation. The meeting was held and the matter discussed.

In January 1982 the Company’s valuer advised that the Arbitrators had fixed the value of the land at $23.68 per square metre. In March 1983 the Solicitors reported that the sale of the land to the Trotting Conference had been finalized, at $53,872 less charges. The net amount from the sale was offset against the capital owing on the mortgage to the Hospital Board and was $52,649. The Government Valuation of the property sold to the NZ Trotting Conference was $18,000 for the land and $400,000 for improvements.

In September 1981 it was reported that Addington Raceway was facing two major items of capital works, one being the conversion from gas which was estimated to cost $240,000 and the other being part of the principal payment due to the North Canterbury Hospital Board, namely $150,000. A meeting of the Treasurers of the three Clubs was held to consider various ways of bridging the shortfall such as increasing the rental payments by the Clubs to the Company from 1¾% to 3% of on-course turnover; prepayment of subscriptions for a number of years by not more than 200 members, and the organizing of a national raffle.

In December 1981 the Met agreed to loan $150,000 to Addington Raceway Ltd to be used in making the mortgage payment rather than financing the conversion from gas to electricity. The Club also agreed that the increase in rental to Addington Raceway from 1¾% to 3% starting at the commencement of the 1981-2 season. Following a recommendation from the Joint Treasurers that a national lottery be run, the Club agreed that it be conducted through Mr Peter Ranford with 40,000 tickets at $5 each, with prizes to the value of $80,000. In March it was reported that the Internal Affairs Department had issued a permit to conduct the lottery, and in June it was reported that an interim profit amounting to $10,000 was credited directly to accumulated funds. The total profit from the lottery was $23,968.73.

In August 1982 advice was received that the Waimairi County Council intended to construct a roundabout at the Wrights Road/ Halls Road, Birmingham Drive intersection, and would be taking seven to eight perches of land for the purpose. It was unlikely that the Company would receive any substantial amount in payment for the land, but it was decided that a new hurricane fence be erected on the new boundary line. In the month following it was decided as the fence was being re-aligned the Waimairi County Council be contacted regarding compensation. In February 1983 the new fence line was completed but no reimbursement for the area taken over by the Waimairi County Council had been made.

In August 1983 the Waimairi County Council submitted plans for an extension to the Pump House situated on the Wrights Road Boundary and an offer for the purchase of land for road widening at the corner of Halls and Wrights Roads and Birmingham Drive. The Directors agreed that as the offer of $1,500 was insufficient for the land required for street widening it was declined.

In October however, the Directors agreed to accept the Waimairi County Councils increased offer of $3,500.

At the end of 1982 CPTC approved, in principal, the payment of 3% of their on-course turnover and 30% of their TAB distribution being paid to the Raceway by way of rental for the current year. In the following February the Met asked Addington Raceway Ltd to investigate the basis of rental charges and each Club’s commitment to the Raceway. The NBTC advised that due to their financial position only 20% of the TAB distribution could be paid and their rental remain at 1¾%. The Directors agreed that the basis be 3% of the on-course turnover and 20% of the TAB distribution.

In order to boost the Company’s finances, a proposal was received in January 1983 that an area of land currently used for car parking, could be better utilized by the installation of a display centre to be set up by Decabond. The area proposed covered approx. 2.5 hectares at a suggested rental of $10,000 with the consortium being responsible for all outgoings. The proposal was approved and the Chairman given power to act in negotiating a lease. In February it was reported that Decabond had offered to pay rental of $15,000 per annum and that the conditions raised by Waimairi County Council to the proposed display site could be overcome. A plan of the area was to be prepared by a Registered Surveyor.

In August 1982 the Company had a large debit balance and it was decided to arrange a transfer of 10% of the Met and CPTC 1983/4 TAB distribution to the Company and the NBTC be asked to meet the amount still outstanding. The Clubs were asked to pay 4% of on-course turnover and the basis of calculation reviewed after the Cup Meeting. The Chairman of Directors, Mr H M S Dawson, and Mr Hartley outlined the different methods for calculating the rental charges to be levied on the Clubs. Mr Hartley and Mr McCormick, President of the Met were asked to prepare a budget for the forthcoming year for consideration by the Directors.

Following a report on office expenses and repairs and maintenance it was decided that it be a recommendation to the Clubs that the rental be calculated at 2.5% of on-course turnover and 1.5% of off-course turnover per race day. In December however it was decided that the rental remain at 3% of on-course turnover and in June 1984 the Treasurers of the three Clubs requested that the Company’s Auditors investigate the payment of rental by the Clubs to the Company being on a per meeting basis.

In June 1983 the Decabond Solicitor advised that they had lost their case against the zoning restrictions but intended to appeal the decision.

In July 1984 Mr R Stark of Wrightsons Real Estate was asked to update his report regarding the development and subdivision of the land beyond the motorway and bordering Wrights Road.

In December the Directors decided to proceed with the recommendation that hoardings be sited on the fence along the back straight, twenty along the back straight and a further six starting from the showgrounds bend. The contract would be for three years and the rental $1,000 per annum paid in advance. Maintenance was the responsibility of Addington Raceway Ltd.

In July 1985 Weenick & Thomas reported on their investigations into incorporating a Functions Centre at Addington with particular regard to the adequacy of the fire alarms and emergency lighting. As a result of this investigation a new standby diesel generator with automatic starter was purchased for $22,000. It was also decided on Weenick & Thomas’s recommendation that a Type C fire alarm system at a cost of $9,000 be installed.

In October it was reported that the concept of the Functions Centre which was in fact the upgrading of the Members Restaurant would cost in the vicinity of $120,000 to effect and P Burke & Co had agreed to reimburse the cost of carpeting and drapes. The Committee approved the project and requested that it be proceeded with post haste. Later concern was expressed at the slow progress being made in renovating the Members Luncheon Room as a functions area.


Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

FINAL MEETING AT NEW BRIGHTON

The New Brighton course would now become Queen Elizabeth II Park and in 20 years time or so it could develop into the Hagley Park of the seaside suburb, said the Deputy Mayor of Christchurch (Councillor H P Smith) who was speaking at the closing ceremony of the club at its final meeting on its own course on Saturday. Cr. Smith said the New Brighton Club's gesture in offering the property to the City Council at much below the sub-divisional value was a magnificent one. The 'City Fathers' would be 'just as jealous of every square yard of it' as they were of Hagley Park, he continued. People would be able to enjoy recreation on the new park "for time immemorial".

The crowd of nearly 10,000 which attended on Saturday far exceeded expectations, and the £104,625 handled by the totalisator on-course was £32,000 more than last year. The main event, the A E Laing Handicap, carried a £50 trophy presented by Mr Laing, a former president who has been in hospital for some weeks. Five other presidents are still active officers of the club and races were named after them on Saturday's programme. They are Messrs W E Desmond, O Hutchinson, A G Jamieson, A McDonald and S J Moore.

Mr W F Stark, the president, in introducing the Deputy Mayor, thanked the public for their generous support in the past and extended to all a warm welcome to the club's future meetings at Addington. Queen Elizabeth II Park would be "real value for posterity" he said , and he was thankful that sub-division of such a fine place had been avoided. Officers of the club gathered in the birdcage for the ceremony, at which 'Now Is The Hour' and 'Auld Lang Syne' were sung.

A long list of champions, notable among them Wildwood Junior, Reta Peter, Adelaide Direct, Willie Lincoln, Agathos, Onyx, Peter Bingen, Great Bingen, Harold Logan and Josedale Grattan, were trained, at one time or another, on the New Brighton track. Between 25 to 40 years ago New Brighton was one of the busiest training centres in NZ, and trackwork was covered by the Christchurch daily papers - particularly when there were two morning and two evening papers - just as fully and prominently as the training activities at Addington.

Back in the late 1920s J N (Jim) Clarke trained a large team from Brooklyn Lodge (now occupied by George Cameron), and Peter Bingen, Great Bingen and Willie Lincoln were among the horses who occupied stalls in his stable. Contemporaries of Jim Clarke who come readily to mind included A J (Alf) Wilson, who trained and drove Reta Peter, twice winner of the NZ Cup; W (Bill) Warren, N L (Nelson) Price, J D (Doug) Smith, H (Harry) Frost, H(Harry) Aker, G (George) Robinson, A E (Arthur) Bussell and E R (Ernie) Husband.

Much earlier, the brothers W (Bill) and C (Charlie) Kerr, won renown with Wildwood Junior, Admiral Wood and others; M (Manny) Edwards took Adelaide Direct to the top; C Channing's Agathos was among the top flight of pacers in the early 1920s and Onyx, trained by J (Jack) Messervy, was the champion mare of the Dominion about the same period. Much later Pot Luck, trained by his owner H (Bert) Stafford, was a headline pacer trained at New Brighton, and F J ('Wizard') Smith used to quarter his team there on his regular visits to Christchurch meetings - Josedale Grattan and Nell Volo were among his great ones who had their final trials ay Brighton before important wins at Addington. W ('Tiger') Barron, was a prominent seaside trainer of over 30 years ago with horses owned by Mr D Rodgers.

There were others, many of them: the Jardens, the younger Kerrs and Smiths and Messervys, R (Dick) Motz and his son Arnold, E F C (Ernie) Hinds, D (Dan) Mahoney, E (Ernie) Hawtin, T H (Tom) Gleeson, G L (George) Mitchell, L C (Lester) Frost, F R (Fred) May, L (Lester) Davidson; and coming right down to the present day G (George) Cameron and A (Alf) Rhodes are among those still holding the fort along with A Richards, A Kendall, G Tisch, A L Mugford, W Ireland and a few others.

New Brighton at one time was as fast as any track in the country - Happy Voyage's 2.04 1/5, which stood as the NZ and Australian mile record for a season, was established on the track in 1923. In 1925 the champion mare Onyx, a lovely piece of horseflesh, went 3.13 against time for a mile and a half, which stood as a NZ and Australian record for a number of years. And on more than one occasion the peerless Harold Logan broke records from long handicap marks there - his 2.36 3/5 in winning the mile and a quarter Avon Handicap from away back on 84 yards (then a 'world's winning race record') will live on in the writer's memory as one of the greatest displays of good manners, brilliance and courage ever seen anywhere.

According to the late F C Thomas, a well-informed trotting historian of the early days, New Brighton is one of the oldest courses in NZ used solely for trotting meetings, and it is now more than 90 years since the first trotting event was held in the district. The New Brighton Club did not exist in those early days and was not formed until about 1890. For some time before that the New Brighton Racing Club held trotting meetings and mixed galloping and trotting meetings on the course. The New Brighton Trotting Club did not hold it's first meeting until 1895, when £190 was paid in stakes and totalisator turnover amounted to £1648.

Anyone prepared to dispute this statement is referred to the NZ Turf Register, 1894-95, which details the "New Brighton TC Inaugural" meeting, Saturday, March 16, 1895, "weather fine, going rough". The first race was won by J Gallagher's Swinton by "300 yards" in 6.01 for two miles. The mile Dash Handicap and the two miles Avon Handicap went to T Walker's Mistake in 2.54 and 5.54 1/2 respectively. The New Brighton Handicap, run over two miles in saddle, was won by H Mace's FB in 5.34. Other winners were J P Martin's Toby II(two races) J Barrett's Lily, and W Kerr's Felix.

The property was at that time owned by Mr Henry Mace, who with the club's first president (Mr H McIlwraith) and secretary (Mr A I Rattray) first gained Government recognition of trotting through the old NZ Trotting Association, which had been formed in Christchurch in 1888. On the death of Mr Mace in 1902, the course became the property of Mr H Button, who had a stud and trained thoroughbreds from the Brooklyn Lodge stables. The club continued to prosper and bought about half the present block containing the track from Mr Button in 1909, the same year in which the club's first course superintendent (Mr R Davidson) was appointed. Mr Davidson's son, L Davidson, has trained horses on the New Brighton course until recent months.

The course was very rough in the early days, but it gradually improved under Mr Davidson's care until he retired in 1924. He was succeeded by Mr W Stevenson, whose son, Mr T Stevenson took over in 1936. Mr T Stevenson will complete 27 years as course superintendent on September 27, and will remain on the course when the Christchurch City Council takes over on October 1.

The club did not secure the remainder of the property until the early 1930s.

-o0o-

Vanderford had to be good to win the A E Laing Handicap. He made his usual fast beginning and was quickly up near the leaders. Vanderford followed Kingsdown Patch, one out, till rounding the turn into the straight. At that stage Kingsdown Patch could do no better, and it appeared as though Vanderford's driver, M Holmes, was forced to make a forward move earlier than he would have liked. Vanderford had to race very wide turning for home, but shaken up a little, he soon collared the leaders, and once he did the result was in safe keeping. Vanderford won going away by a length, to record his fifth success on end, and his fourth for the season. He now requires only one distance win to become eligible for the NZ Cup. Rustic Lad was second, Flying Blue third and Avante fourth.

-o0o-

To the consistent Master Alan went the honour of winning the last race on the New Brighton course, and his success was a popular one. Earlier in the season Master Alan had been runner-up to Cardigan Bay at Hutt Park and second to Doctor Dan at New Brighton a fortnight ago. Master Alan raced in about the middle of the field until the turn and joined the leaders about the furlong. Master Alan responded in grand style to record 2.08 4/5, the last half being run by the leaders in 1.02 4/5, the final quarter in 31 2/5 secs, on a track which was not fast. Junior Royal paced a little roughly early in the race and was doing his best work in the concluding stages. Robin Dundee paced a sound race and made up ground for third. Doctor Dan was next, followed by Lordship, who had every chance. He is obviouslt not at his best.


Credit: 'Ribbonwood' writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 25Sep63

ELECTRONIC TIMING

The New Brighton Trotting Club's Anzac Meeting on Monday will mark the introduction of electronic film timimg at Addington Raceway. The system has been developed in Invercargill by Jim Rogers and Bruce Gavin and is a refinement of the original equipment, which NZ Trotting Conference Secretary John Rowley presented a paper on at the World Trotting Conference in Rome two years ago.

The Invercargill Trotting Club was the first to use the system, but improvements over the years have seen the original equipment become virtually obsolete. The significant feature of Rogers and Gavin's equipment is that it enables them to record the time of every horse in the race, unlike other electronic systems in use throughout the world, which stop as soon as the winner's nose crosses the line. However, the system is nothing new to electronics, a similar one having been used at the Olympics for some 15 or 20 years. Indeed, it seems only a matter of time before electronic film timing is as widely accepted as manual timers have been for the last century.

The interest has been such that Rogers and Gavin have formed Race Finish Services, aside from their usual occupations. Rogers designs the cameras and generally look after the optics and developing of films, while Gavin specialises in the electronics. The system is basically a combination of photo finish filming and timing. For instance, in standing start events when the starter hits the lever, a high frequency signal is transmitted to a recording device in the photo finish box which triggers the electronic timer. The reflection of a digital timer is transposed on to the photofinish film and as each horse crosses the line, his individual time can be easily obtained.

For mobile events, a specially developed device throws a beam across the track at chest height at the starting point. The beam is light sensitive so as not to be triggered by the car or mobile barrier, and when broken by the horse's chest again activates the device in the same manner that pertains to the standing start, a signal is transmitted to commence the timing. Gavin initially discovered problems when using this device at night, the bright lights on the track causing irregularities, but this has since been solved.

Obviously, the main advantage of the system is its accuracy, a horse's time can be recorded down to 100th of a second, or less if necessary. In the past, where two horses have crossed the line within a nose of each other, in reality their time is the same down to one tenth of a second, but not to 100th of a second. The other main advantage is, of course, the accuracy of the placed horses' times as well. The equipment is easily portable and is available for rent rather than being purchased.

The possibilities for further improvements and variations are endless, depending on the needs of individual clubs. Added features, like a display board with the time progressing as the race in run, which would be of considerable interest in mobile mile, or time-trial events, would be pretty straightforward to install. Then that could be taken another step to display sectional times for the final 800 and 400 metres, etc. Similar systems are already widely used in Australia, America and Europe. At Harold Park in Sydney they've gone to the extent of setting up flashing lights at each quarter pole, a popular attraction for time-trial events. For example, if a horse is trailing to better 1:56, the lights flash at 29 second intervals.

Credit: Frank Marrion writing in NZ Trotting Calendar 19Apr83

ORIGINS OF QEII PARK

Before its purchase by the Christchurch City Council in 1963, Queen Elizabeth II Park, was, for almost 70 years, the home of the New Brighton Trotting Club, all the time boasting that rarity - a grass track at a metropolitan course. And, even before the 1890s, it was an area of some interest.

More than a century ago the land was occupied by Maoris, who built their camp which they called Orua Paeroa. It was by no means a perfect dwelling place as strong east winds beat in from the sea. But its advantages outweighted its drawbacks - the neighbouring Travis Swamp abounded with eels and birdlife.

By 1862 the Maoris had abandoned their camp. In that year Thomas Raine bought from the Government rural sections 4738, 4832 and 5155, which cover the great bulk of the area of the modern sports stadium and reserve. He burned the whares which the Maoris had left but it is doubtful whether he carried out many improvements.

At that time Raine was a major purchaser of land at New Brighton. Perhaps he hoped that the district would become a seaside resort to rival Sumner, then Christchurch's chief watering place. It was not until the establishment of a tramway service in the 1880s that major development took place; and it is doubtful whether the pioneer landowner made any fat sums out of his property. By trade Thomas Raine was a manfacturer of aerated water, being popularly known as "Gingerpop" Raine. A verse, punning on the name of the pioneer Christchurch businessmen, includes the lines: "And strange as it may seem, from Raine we get good soda water."

By the 1880s arrangements had been made for the running of horse races at New Brighton. But the venue was not the Queen Elizabeth II Park site - it was the beach. The beach racing club ran under very primitive conditions, an exceptionally high tide would delay the start of proceedings, and it was sometimes quite dark before the last event was concluded.

Eventually the beach was abandoned, Tom Free, licensee of the Bower Hotel, having laid out a 3/4 mile course at the Queen Elizabeth II Park property. There was then a mixed trotting and racing programme, and the first race on the site was held in 1886. At first conditions were only marginally better than on the foreshore. The judge had to carry out his duties from atop a beer barrel. And the grass having not yet consolidated the sandy soil, the latter could "wander at its own sweet will, and the majority of the visitors retuned to town half hidden in a canopy of dust."

But worst of all was the mountainous sandhill which stood in the centre of the paddock. As one man later recalled: "When horses got behind this they were utterly lost to view from the other side of the course, and here sometimes the riders would take a bit of a pull if they were not anxious to win or run prominently. I recollect that on one occasion the front markers practically all pulled up and the back marker presently came along. He was quite angry and called to the waiting squadron: If you fellows don't go on, I'm going to go back. The race was then resumed.

Still, there were compensations, Tom Free was more than a patron of the turf; as well, he provided the punters with excellent food. Free ran the course through, a business concern, the New Brighton Sports Club. After this had been wound up one of the directors, Harry Mace, took over. He called the place "Brooklyn Lodge" and established there his home, stables, training track and stud. Artesian bores were drilled, and the track top-dressed and graded. It was in Mace's day that the New Brighton Trotting Club was established on the property, the first race being run on March 16, 1895. The sum of £190 was paid in stakes, and the totalisator turnover amounting to £1648.

Like Thomas Raine, Harry Mace was a manfacturer of aerated water. The label on his wares showed a St Bernard dog, the myth being that this illustration was chosen to recall how one such beast had saved Mace from drowning. Maces Road, Bromley, commemorates Mace's service on the Heathcote Road Board, the ancestor of the present Heathcote County Council. An imposing figure in grey frock coat and top hat, Mace played a prominent part in the history of trotting. He was on all deputations urging the Government recognition of the sport; and encouraged Seddon to place a tax on totalisator receipts. This was to counter the strong opposition to the sport by the anti-totalisator section of the public.

Harry Mace died in 1902. The New Brighton Trotting Club continued to function on the Queen Elizabeth II Park land, but the ownership of the property stayed with a single individual, Robert Button, an elderly timber miller who had grown rich through cutting out the totara logs at Mount Peel. Button is, however, best remembered as the father of Bella Button. Indeed, it was for the pleasure of Bella, his favourite daughter, that he invested his money in the park.

Bella was a practitioner of Women's Lib 75 years before the phrase was invented. In the 1890s she was taking part in trotting events within a wide radius of her parents' South Canterbury home and letting them know of any victories through messages attached to carrier pigeons. Her greatest honour came the day that the Governor and his wife, Lord and Lady Ranfurly, having heard of her skill at breaking in the worst of mavericks, visited the family home for lunch and a tour of inspection.

By the time the Buttons bought Queen Elizabeth II Park, women had been excluded from trotting events. Thus Bella never had a chance to try out the New Brighton course at a fully-fledged meeting. Her activities were confined to breaking in the beasts and training them. Sometimes she had a chance to show her prowess, such as at O'Neill's buckjumping show (a rodeo-style attraction) at the grand International Exhibition in Hagley Park in 1906-07. The newspapers described this "tallish woman approaching middle-age" who was "perfectly fearless when handling the biggest outlaws they bring along" and who could not only handle steeds superbly but also "build a trap or nail a shoe on a horse as necessity requires."

In later years Bella married a man named Moore. But her equestrian interests remained unabated. Then, in 1921, she was thrown from a horse named Patience and killed. She was 58 years of age.

Credit: Richard Greenaway

One of the essential facilities on any Racecourse is the supplying of food and liquor, and is an area of operations subject to more criticism than any other.

Mr Alexander Rattray, who was a Baker and Pastry cook, owned and operated a shop in Victoria Square next to the Limes Hospital, which was on the site now occupied by the Christchurch Town Hall. Mr Rattray ran a catering business in conjunction an in 1899 was the original tenderer for the catering rights at Addington Racecourse. Mr Rattray was not related to Mr Andrew Rattray the long time Secretary to the Club.

In 1900 Mr P Burke’s tender of £65 per day for both Booth and Catering rights with an extra payment of £20 for the November Meeting, was accepted. In July 1903 it was decided that Mr P Burke who became the Proprietor of the Bush Inn Hotel in 1904, be again granted the rights, this time for a tem of three years, which was extended in May 1906 for a further three years.

In January 1908 P Burke & Co. Ltd were established with Mr Burke as Chairman, and in February of that year the Company took over the lease of the Bush Inn Hotel. In July 1908 the catering and booth rights were let for three years to the new Company at £650 per annum. The rights were next referred to in April 1916 when the Company was granted them for a period of five years at £1,000 per annum.

Mr Alexander Rattray, who was a Director of P Burke & Co. Ltd became the Licensee of the Bush Inn Hotel in 1918, and retained the Licence until his death on 3rd February 1931, as a victim of the Napier Earthquake. The pattern of granting the catering rights was one of renewal every few years, with a review of the fee to be paid. In 1921 the rights were extended for a five year term, at £1200 per annum, and renewed for a further three years on the same terms in April 1926. February 1929 saw the rights again extended on this occasion for two years at £1,300 per annum, while the following July the term was increased to three years. In August 1931 when renewed a reduction of £300 in rental was agreed to as there was a drop in attendances at the Meetings. In July 1932 the Contract was renewed for one year only at £780 but towards the end of 1933 the contract was extended for two years at an increased fee of £900.

In May 1936 tenders were called for the catering rights, and Burkes’ tender was £1,000 and that of N D Watson (in association with Josephines Ltd) £1,275. The long association Burkes had had with Addington weighed in their favour and their tender was accepted. In August 1936 Burkes asked that the Stewards and Members Luncheon be increased to 4/6d as they were greatly affected by the new legislation which reduced the time between races to thirty five minutes. The Club agreed to the increase being only 4/-. Their contract was renewed for three years at £1,000 per annum.

All appeared to be quiet on the Catering front during World War II and the first reference to Catering was in October 1947, when Burkes request for a seven years extension was held over and no further information on this request can be located, nor is catering referred to again until July 1961 when it was agreed that the Booth rights payable by P Burke & Co. Ltd be fixed at £20 per one thousand attendance.

As was to be expected the Caterers asked for a lowering of their payments and an increase in the selling price of their products and September 1965 the Catering Committee met representatives of P Burke & Co. when it was agreed that the charge for spirits be increased to 1/6d for Whiskey, Brandy & Gin and 1/9d for Pimms and Bacardi but that in the Lounge Bar 1/6d be charged for all spirits.

In June 1966 Mr Hans Dieudonne was appointed by P Burke & Co. as Chef in charge of their Catering Department which resulted in a marked improvement in the quality of the Catering.

In March 1968 Burkes offered to pay $60 per one thousand attendance at Cup Days and $50 per one thousand at Night Meetings and said it would be necessary to increase the charge for the Restaurant Buffet meal to $1 per head. Their offer was accepted and the increase agreed to.

The costs of catering and liquor continued over the years to be the subject of applications from the caterers for increases. In September 1970 the joint Catering Committee of the three Clubs received a request from P Burke & Co. Ltd for an increase in the price of the Members meal to $1.20 as this meal had been priced at $1 for the last two and a half years. In view of the alarming increases in the cost of wages, and materials together with the imposition of the payroll tax it was imperative that the price increase be agreed to. The matter was held over for further investigation and Mr Collingwood of the CPTC reported to the joint Catering Committee the following week, that he had obtained a quotation from Modernage Caterers who were prepared to cater at a rate of $1 per head for 1,000 people without any reduction in standard, but that did not include any liquor rights. It was then agreed by the sub-committee that Burke & Co’s request for an increase be agreed to for the remainder of the season.

In October of the following year the caterers again requested an increase but offered to increase the privilege payments. The increases asked for, and agreed to, were minimal being up to $1 for the public luncheon, 45 cents for buffet afternoon teas, staff meals 75 cents and Members afternoon tea 45 cents. The sub-committee approved the proposed increase in privilege payments which were to be $360 for the first six thousand patrons attending, $700 for up to ten thousand patrons and $100 per thousand thereafter.

In February 1972 the Committee appointed a sub-committee to go into the question of the Club undertaking its own catering and liquor booth operations. Mr K N Curnow of Hicks & Ainger was asked to undertake a feasibility study on the Clubs running their own liquor and letting the catering as a separate item. In October 1974 Mr Curnow was authorized to visit Auckland to further his study but the outcome of the investigations was that no changes to the catering or liquor operations be undertaken.

The next negotiations were held in August 1976 when it was agreed that charges for meals be increased. The Presidents meal to be charged at $2.25 and $1 for afternoon teas, Members meals $2.75 and $1 for teas, Public $2.15 and $1 for teas with a rebate of 12½% per ticket on those issued by the Club. A change to the privilege payments was agreed to, and based at eight cents on each of the first 8,000 persons, nine cents on the next thousand and ten cents on any excess.

In July 1977 the Minister of Internal Affairs advised that an extension to booth license hours for night trotting would be reviewed and the act substantially amended. It was advised by the Committee to support the suggestion that there be a review of the Statutes Amendment Act at the end of the current parliamentary session.

In July 1978 the question of increases in charges and privilege payments was again the subject of discussion and the increases asked for catering charges were accepted and the Caterers agreed to pay 12 cents a head by way of privilege payments, with the proviso that a new deep fry facility be built.

In December 1980 following discussions between Club representatives and the Caterers a plan was considered to remove the wall between the Members restaurant and coffee bar with serving counters incorporated in the area. This will allow for a greater area to be furnished with tables and chairs, and to include the provision of a wine service and the inclusion of totalisator windows. The estimated cost was $10,000. The scheme was approved in principle by the Committee. The alterations were undertaken in December 1980 when the Club was advised that P Burke & Co. Ltd had been taken over by Lion Breweries Ltd.

In July 1981 a suggestion was put forward that the three Addington Clubs and the Canterbury Jockey Club jointly employ a Bar Manager whose responsibility would include staffing and stocking the Bars.

In September 1981 P Burke & Co. Ltd submitted a basis for new privilege payments and the President advised that these had been informally passed on to the other two Clubs. At the same time numerous complaints were received regarding the catering in the Member Restaurant and Burkes said that the present make-shift arrangements were not conducive to a smoothly run operation. It was reported the Burke & Co. Ltd could possibly assist in financing renovations to the Members Restaurant in view of the Clubs other financial commitments. It was suggested they advance money to the Company interest free.

It was reported that Burkes were very keen to become resident Caterers in conjunction with Addington Raceway and were hopeful that a catering company could be formed. It was later reported that the initial stage of the renovations to the Members Restaurant were in hand, and would include an improved ventilation system in the kitchen, the removal of the wall dividing the coffee bar and restaurant and the removal of the island servery.

In November 1981 it was reported that P Burke & Co. Ltd and Lion Breweries were interested in re-opening negotiations for but in June1982 Club representatives reported on their negotiations with the representatives of P Burke & Co. Ltd and Lion Breweries and said that the original offer had been withdrawn as Lion Breweries advised they could utilize their money to better advantage. The proposal to establish the Catering business under licence to Addington Raceway Ltd was not proceeded with as it had certain drawbacks for the Company including the valuation of the property and exemptions from Land Tax.

On the 3rd March 1983 Messrs J C Hulme, R H Rattray and W Porter retired after a long association with P Burke & Co. Ltd

The New Brighton Trotting Club called for an updated report on the feasibility of the three Clubs running their own catering and liquor operations. It was felt by the Committee that as negotiations with Lion Breweries were still pending the time was not right for a feasibility study to be carried out.

In March 1984 George Anderson Smiths City Market Ltd submitted an inventory of chattels and fittings in the Member Stand and Club Room belonging to the Raceway which could become the property of P Burke & Co. Ltd. The inventory was inspected by the Secretary and Mr Brocherie of P Burke & Co. Ltd. I was decided that when the valuation was received it be referred to Messrs Duff and Cuningham with power to act. The following month it was reported that as Lion Breweries were awaiting certain cost estimates they would not be available for a meeting with the Directors as planned.

In May George Anderson Smiths City Market and W E Simes & Co. advised that they valued the Company’s chattels at $39,259. As Lion Breweries were delaying the submission of their revised proposal it was decided that a firm undertaking must be received from them prior to the 21st June 1984 in order that negotiations would proceed, and failing that, negotiations cease but Lion Breweries request that they be granted an additional week over and above the deadline to consider the transfer was agreed to.

In July a special meeting of Addington Raceway was held to discuss a further proposal for the relocation of P Burke & Co. Ltd at Addington. As the new proposal was a complete departure from previous approaches in that the main requirement was for Addington Raceway to provide the finance for the majority of the work to be carried out to bring the kitchen area up to Health Department requirements it was decided that P Burke & Co. Ltd be notified that the suggestions submitted are approved in principle as a basis for further negotiations but before that occurs the following points should be clarified:

a. Percentage payable on liquor sales after the first year

b. The present draft lease agreement would become redundant and should be redrafted in view of the change in capital proposals.

c. The redrafted agreement should have the approval of Lion Breweries before being submitted to the Addington Raceway Directors.

Later a sub-committee comprising Messrs R H Duff, J R Hartley and H M S Dawson were empowered by the Directors of Addington Raceway to meet a deputation from Lion Breweries and P Burke & Co. Ltd and negotiate a settlement covering the transfer of Burke & Co’s operations to Addington Raceway. In August the Club Committee empowered the Directors to negotiate the Lease Agreement with Lion Breweries Ltd and P Burke & Co. Ltd. The Directors advised later that the negotiations had reached the stage where they should make a recommendation to the Clubs and submitted three proposals for the Committee to consider.

a. The purchase of P Burke & Co. Ltd by Addington Raceway Ltd.

b. The relocation of P Burke & Co. Ltd at Addington Raceway on a lease basis.

c. The liquor requirements for Race Meetings being operated by the respective Clubs and catering being let out to tender.

The Directors recommended that option “b” be adopted.

The Committee agreed to the Directors recommendation and empowered them to negotiate a Lease Agreement with Lion Breweries Ltd and P Burke & Co. Ltd for their Catering business to be conducted on the Course. This decision was made following a joint meeting of the three Addington Clubs at which it was unanimously agreed that the Lease proposition was the most favourable.

Lion Breweries submitted a redrafted Lease in the following month which did not include a number of the amendments agreed to by their representative and a representative of Addington Raceway. The Directors amended the Lease where necessary and decided to take up the matter of the alterations with Lion Breweries and Burkes.

In December 1984 the Clubs seal was affixed to the Lease and in February 1985 the Company advised that the Lease Agreement for the relocation of P Burke & Co. Ltd at Addington had been completed by all parties.

In September 1985 a plan was submitted by the Architects for alterations to the Administration Building to incorporate office to be occupied by P Burke & Co. Ltd. It was estimated the cost of paneling and screen would amount to $7,782. It was suggested that the rental payable by P Burke & Co. Ltd for the office space be $10,000 per annum.


Credit: NZMTC: Historical Notes compiled by D C Parker

ALASTER McDONALD

Alaster McDonald held a lifetime interest in harness racing. He was an administrator at the highest level, a breeder, owner and regular racegoer.

He was steward of the New Brighton Trotting Club as it was then from 1965 to 1985, and a member of the committee from 1972 to 1998 when the club then amalgamated with the Canterbury Park TC and the NZ Metropolitan TC

He was Vice-President of New Brighton from 1981 to 1982, and President from 1984 to 1987. He was a Director of Addington Raceway from 1987 to 1998.

Alaster followed a family tradition at New Brighton; his father Alex was President from 1958 to 1961. He was on the Executive of Harness Racing NZ, and raced gallopers as well as standardbreds.

Survived by his wife Vonnie, Alaster was 78.

Credit: HRWeekly 5Mar2008

NEW BRIGHTON HARNESS RACING CLUB: EARLY HISTORY

At a meeting held in the Sawyer's Arms Hotel in February 1883, the stewards "were empowered to select a course for races anywhere within the Avon Road District."

The stewards chose land that skirted the swamps adjacent to New Brighton beach. Racing in those rather primitive conditions, the "Beach Racing Club", virtually the New Brighton Trotting Club, began to lose its savour, and the beach club was wound up, the grounds were taken over by the "Canterbury Sports Club Ltd" with the object of "encouraging athletics."

With the demise of this company, Henry Mace, a soft drinks manufacturer, bought the land and built "Brooklyn Lodge" where he founded a stud and training and racing stables. Once he sank wells for irrigation, upgraded the track and built accommodation for the public, trotting became an established sport in the area. The New Brighton Trotting Club was then re-established; and, leasing the track from Henry Mace, held the first official race meeting on March 16th, 1895.

Henry Mace died in 1902 and the next year Robert Button bought the course from Catherine Mace for £2,000, leasing it to the trotting club until 1909 when the Button family sold it for the same amount to the club.

During the First World War, though sections of the army used the grounds for training exercises, racing continued and prospered with further amenities being added for the public's accommodation. Then came the Second World War, and once again the grounds were given over to the Defence Department - and the club raced at Addington.

During the post war decade trotting on the New Brighton grass track was a popular sport, but members quickly realised that where night trotting had been introduced, clubs showed an increase in profit - and times were getting hard for this one!

In 1962, members voted in favour of selling their freehold course to the Christchurch City Council. As a result, in May 1963 the club purchased shares in the Addington Trotting Course Ltd. and held their final race meeting on the New Brighton course on September 21st, 1963. Since that time, the New Brighton Harness Racing Club as it is now known, has made Addington Raceway its home.

These days, the imposing QEII sports complex stands on the former New Brighton course.
++ NOTE: Since the 2011 earthquakes the sports complex has been demolished and the current plan is relocate Avonside Girls High and Shirley Boys High to a new facility on the site.



Credit: NZTC: Centennial Publication